Browsing California

The battle in California to legalize marijuana is heating up. An alliance of industry organizations and wealthy supporters, spearheaded by Napster co-founder and jet-setting billionaire Sean Parker, are looking to disrupt the cannabis industry just as Parker did in the music and technology industries. Sacramento political consultant Gale Kaufman and the capital political law firm Olson Hagel & Fishburn were engaged to draft the 2016 initiative. On Nov 2, official proponents of the measure (Michael Sutton, an environmental attorney and Dr Donald O Lyman, a member of the …

Nearly 20 years ago, California led the nation in legalizing cannabis for medical use with the enactment of the Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215). However, the Act offered little guidance on how patients should obtain medical cannabis or how the industry should be monitored. This uncertainty has created a hodgepodge of local rules and ordinances and some very disturbing environmental and safety issues, but that’s all about to change. Bringing Oversight to California’s Medical Marijuana Industry On Friday, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a trio of bills that …

In less than two years, California voters turn to the polls and face the serious choice of reforming state law in favor of cannabis legalization. It has only been about five years since 53.5% of California voters rejected California Proposition 19 (also known as the Regulate, Control & Tax Cannabis Act) on the November 2, 2010 statewide ballot. Will 2016 be déjà vu all over again? Following In The Footsteps of Other States The silver lining to the cloud of Proposition 19’s defeat are the victories in the ongoing national legalization war. Since 2010, the states of …

The Emerald Cup is all about celebrating the Emerald Triangle in North California and the wealth of quality that the local cannabis communities produce. The contest is entering its eleventh year and was originally exclusive to organically grown flower entries. This year, that is changing. The Emerald Cup 2014 now allows for other medicinal products ranging from solvent-less concentrates to infused edibles. Even topicals have their place. There is also a Breeder’s Cup, where …

Californians voted in favor of Proposition 47 thus reducing jail time for many drug related offenses in the state. California Voters Deal Blow To Prisons, Drug War People incarcerated for non-violent crimes such as possession of drugs, shoplifting (when the amount involved is less than $950), and check and credit fraud will see the mandatory sentence reduced from a minimum three years to one year. Those with a history of violence and sexual assault will not be eligible for the lighter one year sentence, however. While marijuana possession in the state is already listed as a misdemeanor …

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SACRAMENTO, CA — A bill that would regulate the medical marijuana industry in California stalled Thursday when the Assembly Appropriations Committee failed to vote on the measure before its deadline to be passed. Legislators Will Not Pass SB 1262 This Session Proposed by Senator Lou Correra (D), SB 1262 would create legislation that tightly regulates California’s medical marijuana industry to comply with the 8 guidelines issued by the Department of Justice in 2013. The measure was sponsored by the California Police Chiefs association …

SACRAMENTO, CA — Two bills out of California attempt to regulate the medical marijuana industry – a trade that has been referred to as the “Wild West” of its time. Many cannabis businesses in California have gone, since the start, without a benchmark or standard to follow, nor a regulatory agency to oversee performance. SB 1262: A Short History SB 1262, a bill introduced by Senator Lou Correra (D) and sponsored by the California Police Chiefs association and the League of California Cities. Within …

SACRAMENTO, CA — In a move that comes 18 years after California legalized medical marijuana, Senator Lou Correa (D) introduced legislation this week that would establish concrete regulations within the state. As written, Senate Bill 1262 will establish regulations for cultivators, collectives, and physicians who recommend medical marijuana. The initiative was created with significant influence from the California Police Chiefs Association and the League of California Cities, both of which have opposed regulatory efforts in the past. “This legislation seems counter-intuitive, but we polled our membership and over 90 percent of the chiefs felt …

SAN DIEGO, CA — After a highly publicized battle that has lasted over two years, the San Diego City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to pass regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries in the city Similar regulations were passed in 2011, but they were rescinded when a group of activists gathered enough signatures to stall the initiative. The group felt the rules were too restrictive and pushed for an improvement. Whether they got what they wished for is up for debate, as the lack of rules led to the altogether illegality of storefront medical marijuana locations in San Diego for the past …